M.P.T.A. Case to Thesiger Committee
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THE Thesiger Committee met on Wednesday and yesterday to consider the memorandum submitted to it by the Municipal Passenger Transport Association. Oral evidence was presented on Thursday by a party from the M.P.T.A. consisting of Car. R. C. Werrett, chairman, Mr. G. A. Cherry, vice-chairman and general manager of Birkenhead Transport Department, Mr. R. C. Moore, general manager at Sheffield, Mr. A, F. Neal, general manager at Manchester, and Mr. R. E. Hyslop, secretary.
Nearly 50 written memoranda have been received by the committee. A number of bodies which have sent them will probably be asked to give verbal evidence.
A further series of meetings will be held from March 3-5, to which deputations from the Public Transport Association and the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association have been invited. • Verbal and written submissions have already been made by the Transport and General Workers' Union and the National Union of General and Municipal Workers.
The Minister of Transport said on Monday that he did not know when the report would be submitted, although the committee was Making good progress.
SILENCE ON LEVY: AMENDMENT IN THE LORDS?
QURPRISE has been caused by the k--/ failure of the Minister of Transport, during the report stage of the Transport Bill, to refer to the proposal to exempt from the levy vehicles up to 30 cwt. unladen, instead of a ton. During the committee stage he promised to look sympathetically at the suggestion before the Bill came up again.
In C-licence holders' circles there is no hint that the Minister has changed his mind and it is thought that the amendment will be introduced in the House of Lords.
It is also likely that, during the proceedings in the Upper House, attempts will be made to compel the British Transport Commission to surrender its interests in road passenger transport. Viscount Hinchingbrooke gave a hint to this effect in the House of Commons last week. Operators' associations have not abandoned hope that an amendment on these lines may be carried.
DEPUTATION PUT OFF AGAIN
FOR the fourth time in two weeks, the deputation from the leading industrial and transport associations, headed by Sir Leonard Browett, director of the National Union of Manufacturers, was put off, last Friday, by the Minister of Transport from its appointment to interview him about the abolition of the 20 m.p.h. limit. The Minister again had to attend to more urgent business. A meeting for Wednesday was arranged.